Grout-delivery unit



Jan. 4, 1966 c. I. WILLIAMS GROUT-DELIVERY UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1964 CHESTER l. WILLIAMS INVENTOR.

Atty.

United States Patent 3,227,426 GROUT-DELIVERY UNIT Chester-I; Williams, 347 GreenbriarSE, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Filed May 4,196.4;Ser. No. 364,697" Claims. (Cl. 259-153) This invention provides a system for delivering grout under pressure, and has been developed primarily. to. fa,- cilitate the installation of rock bolts. A rock bolt is essentially a long rod inserted in a hole drilled in a rock formation, with some form of anchoring device provided to at least temporarily hold. the. bolt in position until it is grouted. The grouting operation consists in pumping the space around the rod full of grout under pressure to eifect a bond between the rod and the surrounding rock, and to protect the rod against corrosion. The purpose of these rods is to hold the rock formation against collapse or movement, and it is often desirable to install them under conditions where space it extremely limited. Grout is a cementitous paste-like mixture until it has hardened, and the delivery of it must be without suflicient loss of time to interfere with its flow characteristics. This invention provides a unit including a pump, a motor, and a power take-off driving a tank agitator, with these units mounted in such a manner that the entire assembly can be carried easily from place to place by a few men as the contsruction work progresses. A gravity flow of the grout from the. tank is assured, while maintaining the total center of gravity of the unit low enough so that the unit can be carried without instability.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detail through a discussion of the particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing the entire unit ready for use, except for the connection of a conduit carrying compressed air.

FIGURE 2 presents a sectional elevation of a screw pump of conventional design, this being the preferred form of pump for use in connection with this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation through the tank and agitator system.

FIGURE 4 is a section of an additional tank and agitator that may be used together with the assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the device includes a frame generally indicated at 10 having the siderails 11, and the transverse rails 12-16. The rails 12 and 13 are provided with the brackets 17 and 13 for supporting the pump 19 shown in FIGURE 2. The rails 13 and 14 support the power take-01f unit 20, and the rails 15 and 16 provide support for the compressed air motor 21. A rotary control valve 22 of conventional design is incorporated in the air supply line connected normally at 23.

The motor unit 21, the horizontal shaft of the power take-off unit 20, and the pump 19 are preferably coaxial. The output shaft 24 of the take-off unit is substantially vertical, and coaxial with the cylindrical tank 25 normally containing the supply of grout. A conventional clutch unit 26 is interposed between the power take-off and the pump 19 so that the pump may be disengaged without stopping the rotation of the vertical shaft 24. The action of the pump may, therefore, be terminated without stopping the rotation of the agitator assembly 27 within the tank 25. This is highly desirable, as continuous agitation tends to prevent a premature setting of the grout. It also provides for continuation of the mixing action, which is desirable prior to the injection of the grout through the flexible conduit 28.

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The tank 25 has a central cylindrical column 29' secured to the bottom of the tank preferably by welding. A remforcing ring 30 can be used to strengthen this junctron, if desired. The height of the column 29 is normally 1n excess of the depth of the charge of grout loaded into the tank. The agitating device includes a tubular member 31 surrounding the column 29, and the upper portion of the member 31 is bridged by the agitator arm 32. This member has acentral opening receiving the key 33 of the shaft 34, and this shaft is normally coupled to the output shaft 24 of the power take-off device 20. The

lower agitator unit 35 is mounted at the lower extremity of the. member 31 for the purpose of maintaining circulation in the grout immediately adjacent the bottom 36 of the tank. The entire agitator assembly may be withdrawn upwardly to clean the unit and the inside of the tank.

In operation of the device, grout is withdrawn by the combination of suction in the pump 19 and the action of gravity, and passes through the pipe 37 controlled by the valve 38. During this time, the clutch-control handle 39 will be positioned to cause a transfer of torque to the pump 19. After completion of the grouting, the clutch 26 is disengaged to stop the pump 19, and the end of the conduit 28 is inserted in the tank 25. The pump is restarted, and is run long enough to clear it of grout that might otherwise set in the pump. Preferably, the tank is then emptied and the whole unit flushed out with water.

The tank 25 is supported on the legs 40-43, and the leg 43 serves the additional purpose of providing a fulcrum at 44 for the clutch yoke 45. This arrangement provides a central position for the center of gravity of the entire unit, both in the full and empty conditions of the tank 25. The arms 46 and 47 extend from the base of the frame It to support the carrying bar 48, and the arms 49 support the bar 50 at the opposite side of the unit. These carrying bars are located well above the normal center of gravity of the entire device, and provide for carrying the unit with whatever number of men may be available, arranged in position suitably disposed with respect to the center of gravity.

Referring to FIGURE 4, an auxiliary tank 51 is shown positioned on top of the tank 25. It is anticipated that this unit will be mixing a charge of grout while the charge in the tank 25 is being delivered. A motor 52 drives the gear unit 53 through the chain 54 and the sprockets 55 and 56. This, in turn, rotates the shaft 57 containing the agitators 58 and 59. When the unit has properly mixed the charge of grout, the dam 60 may be withdrawn. The contents of the tank 51 are then dumped out through the opening 61 into the container 25. Preferably, the bottom 62 of the tank 51 is provided with a fixed ring 63 which is received easily within the tank 25 to locate the tank 51 properly in position. The motor and gear units 52 and 53 are mounted on a removable cover 64, and the entire assembly carried by the shaft 57 may be removed with the cover 64. This arrangement provides for the gravity feed of grout from the mixing tank 51 to the feeding tank 25, and from there to the pump 19 at a minimum utilization of vertical height. This factor is pf considerable importance in tunnel excavations, and it will be noted that the unit can be carried from one place to another with the mixing tank 51 removed.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A portable grout-delivery unit, comprising:

a frame;

a pump mounted on said frame;

a power take-off unit mounted on said frame and having an output shaft extending normally upward;

a motor mounted on said frame in driving relationship with said power take-oif unit and said pump;

clutch means operative to disengage and engage said pump from said driving relationship;

a tank mounted on said frame, and having agitator means rotatably mounted on a vertical axis and operably connected to said power take-elf output shaft;

conduit means extending from said tank to said pump;

and

handle means mounted on said frame.

2. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said pump,

power take-off unit, and motor are coaxial.

3. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said power take-01f unit is interposed between said motor and pump, and said tank agitator is coaxial with said output shaft.

4. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutch is interposed between said power take-off and pump.

5. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle means includes normally horizontal bars extending along opposite sides of said frame, and substantially above said pump, power take-off, and motor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,829,479 10/1931 Elkins 259-151 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE GROUT-DELIVERY UNIT, COMPRISING: A FRAME; A PUMP MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; A POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND HAVING AN OUTPUT SHAFT EXTENDING NORMALLY UPWARD; A MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME IN DRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT AND SAID PUMP; CLUTCH MEANS OPERATIVE TO DISENGAGE AND ENGAGE SAID PUMP FROM SAID DRIVING RELATIONSHIP; A TANK MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, AND HAVING AGITATOR MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A VERTICAL AXIS AND OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID POWER TAKE-OFF OUTPUT SHAFT; CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID TANK TO SAID PUMP; AND HANDLE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME. 